The lawyers said they were making preparations for a legal battle against the caretaker government and were mapping out elaborate legal steps to defend Hasina, eldest daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Three AL loyalist lawyers told The Daily Star that a detailed plan of action of their legal battle to free Hasina would be made public by the end of this week and they hope to start going in action by the beginning of next week.

If the judge court rejects the bail petition, they will move to the High Court (HC) with a criminal appeal against the rejection order. In case the HC rejects that appeal as well, they will finally appeal to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, one of the lawyers told The Daily Star requesting anonymity.

Furthermore, they will file a writ petition with the High Court challenging the charges brought against the AL chief under the emergency ordinance, he added.

"If the Supreme Court rejects the petition, we will have no alternative but to file a writ petition challenging the legality of the emergency power rules," another lawyer told The Daily Star.

Concurrently, the lawyers will lodge a counter criminal case against the military-backed caretaker government for filing, in their words, "false, fabricated, and politically motivated cases abusing the state power and emergency power rules" against Hasina.

Sheikh Hasina was arrested on July 16 by the joint forces from her Sudha Sadan Residence after a case was filed against her under the State of Emergency Ordinance.

To examine different legal aspects of the 'extortion' charges brought against Sheikh Hasina, the pro-AL lawyers have already formed an 11-member steering committee and a 101-member legal aid committee. The legal aid committee will provide all sorts of legal assistance to the steering committee, lawyer sources said.

The AL is also considering hiring high profile lawyers from Europe and the US. "First, we have to see wbhat our [own] lawyers can do, then we will hire lawyers from abroad," said AL acting president Zillur Rahman.

Zillur Rahman's Press Briefing
Acting President of AL, Zillur Rahman, yesterday said the grassroots level activists of AL are pushing for a movement to free party chief Sheikh Hasina.

".... But we want to pursue the legal process to free her [Hasina] and we believe that it would be possible to free her through a legal battle, given that the law maintains its due course," Zillur said at a press briefing at his Gulshan residence in the capital.

"In all legality, I don't see Sheikh Hasina can be kept detained with false and fabricated charges," he added.

He also said that there is a growing demand within the party that the case against Hasina be conducted in an open court in a transparent manner ensuring traditional laws and procedures.

Zillur said if justice is denied, other alternatives such as launching a movement might be considered, but considering the current scenario, ".... we have asked our party leaders and workers to be patient."

The AL acting chief said the lawyers would finalise the legal plan of action for Hasina's release within a couple of days.

Expressing surprise over the advisers' remark that they were not aware of formation of a new political party when state of emergency is in effect, he said their remarks are not convincing.

He also said that there is no difference of opinion within the party over Hasina's release. He reiterated that no council of the AL would be held until the party chief is released.

Referring to the arrest and harassment of a number of party leaders and workers across the country in the last couple of days, Zillur demanded their immediate release and urged the government to stop making such arrests and harassing AL activists.

Zillur Rahman regretted that because Hasina is being detained illegally, she is unable to stand by the people at a time when the country is experiencing severe floods in many places and factory workers are not getting their wages.

AL leaders Motia Chowdhury, Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser and Maj Gen (retd) Subid Ali Bhuiyan were also present at the briefing.

Meanwhile, a three-member inquiry committee has been formed to investigate into the reported discourteous behaviour with Hasina in the CMM court compound on July 16, UNB reports.

The committee will look into any lapse that led to the breaking of security cordon and chaos, IGP Noor Mohammad told a private television channel yesterday.

The committee was asked to submit its report soon.